Meet Natalia Aniela | Founder and Lead Therapist, Kairos Wellness Collective

We had the good fortune of connecting with Natalia Aniela and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Natalia, how has your background shaped the person you are today?
I never know how to answer the “where are you from” question, because no one place has ever felt like home. My mother was a political refugee from Poland, who emigrated to Mexico. My father is a racially Arab Mexican. Both are Physics professors. My mother crossed the border pregnant with me to give me the safety and opportunity of America. I feel incredibly grateful to have been born here, and I recognize how much I gained from her sacrifice to restart in a new country as a heavily pregnant and single woman. As I build my business in Boulder, I will not and cannot let go of my connection to Colorado’s undocumented Mexican population. My dream is for the business to thrive economically to the point where at least 10% of profits can go back into the accessibility of therapy for everyone.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Kairos Wellness Collective was a dream that lived inside me, half-formed, for almost a decade. It first occurred to me while I was living in Beijing, China, stay-at-home mom to two babies and two toddlers, and working as a volunteer in a public orphanage. I always knew that mental health needed a holistic lens, and my dream was to incorporate Chinese Traditional Medicine into therapy. While on my own road to recovery from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, I realized how few clinicians are able to support this incredibly common mental health disorder. When I met Matthew Williams, who received his traditional medicine doctorate in Beijing and also was in recovery from OCD, I knew that the moment had come to take the leap and create my vision.

I am so proud of innovating in the field of OCD, not just offering the standard treatments of Exposure Response Prevention and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, but also bringing in Yoga, Acupuncture, Herbal Medicine, Mindfulness, Ketamine, and various other evidence-based modalities. We aim to bring a needed, fresh approach to OCD treatment, and to make a therapy center that is home-like, inviting, and fun. We have let go of the stuffy waiting rooms of normal therapy practices, and created vibrant center that resonates with all ages.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
My favorite eatery in Boulder is definitely Rosetta Hall, as I love the casual, inviting atmosphere and the incredible variety of international cuisines. A hike up Shanahan Ridge is compulsory for me, usually with dogs in tow. I love Rebeccas Apothecary, the Bolderado, and the quiet coffee shops further up Pearl, away from the touristy center.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My shout out goes to Shanghai Healing Home, a medical foster home in China which gave me my first job as a therapist. The professional challenge of working with children awaiting adoption and recovering from surgery brought heartbreak, struggle, and incredible growth as a clinician. My trial by fire beginning as a therapist taught me how to love my clients in a boundaried way, how to pour effort into severe cases without ego or attachment to outcomes. My first 6 months as a therapist, I cried and ruminated almost every day about my young clients, until I finally learned how important it was to let go at the end of every workday and trust the process.

Website: www.kairoswellnesscollective.com

Instagram: @kairoswellnesscollective

Image Credits
Matthew Williams, Kairos Wellness Collective